18.06.2012

Learning Disability Awareness Week in Newcastle

This week is Learning Disability Awareness Week  and as part of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment  to meet the needs of those patients with a Learning Disability a range of activities are taking place across the Trust to engage with staff about Learning Disabilities This includes:

• Information stands at main entrances raising awareness of Learning Disability and providing staff and visitors’ information about the Trusts approach to ensure patients with Learning Disability are identified and care is adjusted.
• Education sessions for staff on aspects of care such as, How to develop Easy Read information for Patients,  Supporting Parents who Have a Learning Disability, Makaton Communication, application of the Mental Capacity Act, Learning Disability and Autism and how to safeguard adults with a Learning Disability
• Promoting staff to undertake the Trusts E-Learning Package on Learning Disability, which over 3,000 staff have already completed.
• Launching a new initiative of a Hospital Passport that has been created to support and assist patients with a Learning Disability in hospital.

Alison Forsyth the Trust’s Learning Disability Liaison Nurse says “National Learning Disability Awareness Week is a real opportunity to raise awareness of this vulnerable group of patients with staff teams, carers and general public. The Hospital Passport provides staff with vital information which is relevant to patients care when in hospital and has been developed jointly with patients and carers and will be a really useful tool to support patient care”.

Alison has been in post for over a year now and her role is focused on ensuring patients with a Learning Disability care needs are met and co-ordinated. This role has been very positive with very positive feedback from carers and patients.
 
Patients and carers said:

   “This was the first time we have been to the RVI for dental work and nice to see the staff are aware of people with learning disabilities”.

Alison’s role will continue helping staff and patients to have positive experiences at what can be very difficult times in anyone’s life but especially for individuals and the carers of someone with a Learning Disability.